41 Comments

Hi John, welcome to the website. Feel free to add your photos to the photo album pages (captions would be good too). If you think you might wish to join the Assoc you can find all the application forms here on the website too. Your message brought back memories of a couiple of names. I flew with Jon Tapper on Chinooks and knew Scotty briefly on 72, he was leaving just after I arrived.

Just found this site bored in a hotel after the joys of the Airbus Sim working for the Orange mob. Not as much fun as my time on 72 Sqn between 86-88. First tour aged 21 with Jon Taper, both the youngest FOLA members at the time, much wazzing, wing overs and "huges" with Scotty Weir. Being given an excellent bollocking by my Flight Commander for wazzing, then having a tip strike the following week, oops. But we were immortal then. Many happy memories and will always be my best tour and favourite Squadron. Have many pictures of my NI days if your are interested
Red Adair
PS. No relation to Pete Adair, but we often recieved each other mail in error, wish he'd picked up my bar bill mind.

Pete Adair says...Stumbled across a thread on SHFNI on pprune and the time on 72 92-94 came rushing back! ( and "D" flight on the Wokka, QUAS, 1137 ATC prior to that, 13AEF post that time!)......best days of my life there at V813 haha. Keep up the good work guys.

Hi Pete, nice to hear from you. Glad you found the thread. You can find more here on our website and our Facebook page too. Come and join us there.

Stumbled across a thread on SHFNI on pprune and the time on 72 92-94 came rushing back! ( and "D" flight on the Wokka, QUAS, 1137 ATC prior to that, 13AEF post that time!)......best days of my life there at V813 haha. Keep up the good work guys.

Hello Cassandra. from my book Swift to Battle Vol 3 i can provide this information:

From 6th to 12th March the Squadron detached to Waterbeach for Exercise Halyard but flying was limited due to very poor weather. The month was marred though by the deaths of Flt Lt R Peterson and Flt Lt JK McLean in a flying accident. Peterson was a New Zealander and had recovered from a loss of confidence following a major flying accident whilst at OCU to become one of the leading pilots on the Squadron. His navigator, McLean, was the officer who had originally suggested that the squadron should have an alligator as its mascot.

The month of June also saw aircrew arriving and returning from places afar; Flt Lt JK McLean had been detached to Malta to take part in Exercise Maltex, a local air defence exercise and on his return his rich suntan belied his bitter complaints of being overworked as the Squadron intelligence officer!

Postings to and from the Squadron were part of the routine of life at Church Fenton, but one new arrival caused a bit of a stir in February. The new arrival was a Squadron Mascot in the form of an alligator. He was given the honorary rank of Pilot Officer (Unpaid) and christened Frederick Lionel Bass-Worthington. The alligator on arrival measured 13 inches from tip to tail and his rate of growth was watched with great interest. As with all new pilots he started his training immediately in the Station Flight Anson and there were hopes that he would soon convert to jets. Flt Lt Mclean was responsible for his welfare, arduous and potentially dangerous as it as, and he and Fred soon became firm friends.
From 6th to 12th March the Squadron detached to Waterbeach for Exercise Halyard but flying was limited due to very poor weather. The month was marred though by the deaths of Flt Lt R Peterson and Flt Lt JK McLean in a flying accident. Peterson was a New Zealander and had recovered from a loss of confidence following a major flying accident whilst at OCU to become one of the leading pilots on the Squadron. His navigator, McLean, was the officer who had originally suggested that the squadron should have an alligator as its mascot.

Hello, I Believe you may have some Information about my Half Brother John Kenneth McLean who was Killed colliding with another Meteor Jet and Landing Upside down in the Ouse River?
I would dearly love to find out any Information and possibly any Photos you may have of him.
Our Dad was John Richard McLean from Douglas, Isle of Man.
Warmest Regards
Cassandra McLean
Gold Coast
Australia

Great work and pleased that someone on your forum found our website - I hope that the information and the data bases we host are of assistance to your work,
Kind regards
Kelvin http://aircrewremembered.com

Good Afternoon to everyone, I want to let you know that I'm a modeler and I'm building one of your beautiful Gloster Gladiator used in 1937.
Your historical deeds will always be remembered.
Thank you
Fabrizio

Trained in Canada as a navigator, 1957- 1958
OCU Javelins at RAf Leeming, short time on Meteors at church Fenton, then on to RAF Leconfleld
served on 72 Squadron, 85, Squadron, 11 Squadron and 64 Squadron and finally at 'The Aero Medical Training Centre ' North Luffeham

Recall a photograph being taken of;- Gloucester Gladiator, Gloucester Meteor and Gloucester javelin. probably at RAF Church Fenton but possibly RAF Leconfield
I have been trying to locate this photo without success
Any help would be much appreciated